Tarun Tejpal Requests "In-Camera" Hearing For Goa Govt's Plea Challenging Acquittal

Tarun Tejpal Requests In-Camera Hearing: The Tehelka founder and editor-in-chief, Tarun Tejpal was acquitted of rape charges by a court in Goa on May 21 this year. Now, the senior journalist in a submission before the Bombay High Court at Goa on Tuesday sought an "in-camera" hearing of the Goa government's petition challenging his acquittal.

Tejpal has also sought its dismissal while raising preliminary objections on the maintainability of the petition filed by the state government.

According to a report by Bar and Bench, Tejpal requested the Bombay High Court at Goa to hold all proceedings in the case in-camera, without the presence of the press or public, as had been done in the past during the trial of the case in the lower court. However, opposing Tejpal's request, solicitor general Tushar Mehta pointed out, “The country has the right to know how this institution (judiciary) has dealt with the girl who came before the court with the complaint."

In 2013, the Tehelka founder was accused of sexually assaulting a then junior colleague. The incident took place in a star hotel in North Goa when they were attending an event. He was accused of forcing himself on the woman journalist inside an elevator of the Grand Hyatt, Bambolim, Goa, however, the senior journalist had “pleaded not guilty”, following which a case was registered in court. He was later arrested on November 30, 2013. After an eight-year-long trial, he was acquitted on May 21, 2021, with the judge saying that there wasn’t “enough evidence to warrant a conviction" and proceeded to give him the benefit of doubt. Soon after, the Goa government filed an appeal against his acquittal in the Bombay High Court at Goa. Read what happened so far.

"Normally, I would not have objected, but the way this institution has failed, leaving an inevitable impression upon all victims of sexual violence, and onslaught, that it has a deterrent effect on potential victims," Mehta said.

The next hearing is scheduled for August 31.

Feature Image Credit: Jagran Post